Study of clinical, laboratory, and radiological predictors for predicting the difficulty level of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the gold-standard treatment for symptomatic gallstone disease. While often a routine procedure, its difficulty can vary, with some cases presenting significant technical challenges. A difficult LC is associated with increased operative time, higher rates of conversion to open surgery, and a greater risk of complications such as bile duct injury. Therefore, accurately predicting the difficulty level before surgery is crucial for patient counseling, surgical planning, and improving outcomes. This article explores the key clinical, laboratory, and radiological factors used to predict the difficulty of LC. Preoperative assessment of the patient’s clinical history, laboratory results, and radiological findings is essential for predicting the difficulty of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. By identifying high-risk patients, surgeons can optimize surgical planning, ensure the availability of experienced staff and appropriate resources, and provide more realistic counseling to the patient. Several studies have developed scoring systems that integrate these factors to provide a more objective prediction of surgical difficulty, thereby enhancing patient safety and improving the overall quality of care.